Are there any other fragrances that are even worth trying, you know, since my nose is pretty much terrible? I don't want to smell like an old man, though (no offense to the elderly.) I'm 25 and I don't want anyone thinking I smell like I just rolled out of a bingo tournament (again, no offense to bingo players)

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

Well, I don't know if I'm much help but...
I really don't like Chanel Sycamore
Tobacco Vanille doesn't do anything for me
I don't get all the love for A*Men
Green Irish Tweed is overrated
Armani Code turns my stomach...something weird about it to me
L'Eau d'Issey is bland
The One not so good
Eau Savage is almost revolting to me
1 Million is definitely not for me
but I do kinda dig Terre d'Hermes

So, for the most part we have similar dislikes, of your likes I really can't stand Le Male. I've decided that a lot of the acclaimed frags here on basenotes aren't my favorites...but here are a few of my favorites:
CDG Palisander-fantastic
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca-can't get enough of
Bond no 9 New Haarlem-Love it!!
Bond no 9 Coney Island-so different yet so good
Guerlain Aqua Allegorie Mentafollia-Great
CDG Wonderwood-Awesome
CDG Peppermint-Awesome
Rochas Desir Homme-Great
Diptyque Philosykos-Man that stuff is good and very natural smelling
Bond no 9 Little Italy-Citrusy goodness
Bond no 9 Bleeker Street-Great

Obviously I'm a bit of a CDG and Bond no 9 fan. I'm sure that there are plenty of people that won't like a single one on my list, but I sure do. Maybe you'll like a few on my list. Happy smelling.

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

My advice is to hold on to the samples that you disliked and give them another test in maybe a month or two. I've come to learn that that the deeper you get into this hobby, the more your appreciation for various fragrances broadens. It's happened to me several times when I've first sampled a fragrance and it came across horrid, after a few more trys and weeks of time later, I actually love the stuff.

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

I don't at all think your nose is "terrible", as you say; there is nothing wrong with being honest about what you like and what you don't. I would say just keep sampling and experiencing scents, both old and new, and just buy what you like regardless of what the consensus opinion about it on Basenotes is.

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

Hey, Bingo is a game of subtlety and intrigue, so don't make a fool of yourself! Just kidding. I think you just keep sampling. If you are going to put some thought into it, try to figure out which notes, accords, or combinations you like, and then read reviews. At that point order some more samples. And don't be so quick to dismiss a frag. Put the remainder of the sample aside and come back to it at least a month later, and when you think you might be in the mood for it. If you hate it then you can put it aside for the foreseeable future.

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

Originally Posted by colognejunkie2000

My advice is to hold on to the samples that you disliked and give them another test in maybe a month or two. I've come to learn that that the deeper you get into this hobby, the more your appreciation for various fragrances broadens. It's happened to me several times when I've first sampled a fragrance and it came across horrid, after a few more trys and weeks of time later, I actually love the stuff.

I strongly agree. Sometimes I try fragrances I've read good reviews about at department stores and don't really like them, then after a month or so I happen to try again and end up buying or splitting some of them.

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

Originally Posted by colognejunkie2000

My advice is to hold on to the samples that you disliked and give them another test in maybe a month or two. I've come to learn that that the deeper you get into this hobby, the more your appreciation for various fragrances broadens. It's happened to me several times when I've first sampled a fragrance and it came across horrid, after a few more trys and weeks of time later, I actually love the stuff.

Ditto this - keep them because if you are still interested in exploring fragrances in a month, six months, a year..., then you'll be glad you have some of those around, and your opinions will change.

Meanwhile, you listed 7 perfumes that you do enjoy. So why not just wear those for now? There's no rush about any of this.

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

For me, the biggest change came when I began to be able to distinguish between frags that had a higher percentage of naturals and those that were very synthetic. Those who aren't yet there will often say things like "this frag smells like bug spray" (or hair spray), as I once did.

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

Originally Posted by hedonist222

I'd say more like rudimentary rather than weird. Time to develop that sense of smell.

Is this why a safe scent like AdG rates so highly in the list of compliment getters? Does wearing something more challenging (for lack of a better word) mean one's date needs to also have a well developed sense of smell and the taste to go along with it?

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

Thanks to each and every one of you for all your helpful suggestions and advice. You guys are great. I'll be purchasing the ones I did like so I can add 'em to my rotation. In the mean time, I'll keep experimenting with my other samples and seeing which notes work for me and which don't. I'll also get around to sampling some of the other suggestions you guys made. Hopefully within the next few years, I'll have an extended collection like a lot of you have.

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

Originally Posted by swix

Is this why a safe scent like AdG rates so highly in the list of compliment getters? Does wearing something more challenging (for lack of a better word) mean one's date needs to also have a well developed sense of smell and the taste to go along with it?

I don't think your date or spouse needs to have a developed sense of smell for you to wear something challenging or atypical but it definitely helps in making the experience all better.

Imagine having truffle with a date who doesn't realize how good it is.

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

my sense of smell rarely matches with the perception another person (specially here in Basenotes) has aBout a fragrance

i think a Big percentage of out olfactory perception, it is related to our mind
WE SMELL WITH OUR MIND, the things we imagine, visualize or think, thats what its going to create the final impression aBout a fragrance

for example, when we use la nuit d l'homme we think aBout the Black Brownish Bottle, and we imagine very mature setting, night, dark, strong, elegant
and it has some of that to it, But on the real it is very dark Blue fragrance, with a lot of kinda fresh qualities to it and it dries down very sweet and vanilla
same thing with armani code
and specially ESCADA - MAGNETISM, for the colour of the Bottle people compare that one to grapefruit soda
what if they get to know that inside of the dark purple Bottle theres a green juice inside, will they say that theres an herBal minty quality to it ?
i would say that Big chances are that people would not get that grapesoda viBe in it if the Bottle was not purple, personally i dont get that.

to me acqua di parma - essenza di colonia for some reason reminds me of very natural setting, lot of grass, greeness, plants, lovely garden with a lot of invogorating smelling herBs, and also high class quality soap, something really stimulating, fresh, clean, outdoorsy
Bcus of the Black Bottle a lot of people might get a different perception of it, night scent, dark, dense, it is woody indeed But i dont get none of those other qualities, the only thing tha Black Bottle say to me its ellegance and formal dressing, which it totally matches this fragrance

Re: My sense of smell is weird... are there others like me?

Some sage advice here ↓↓↓:

Originally Posted by Tappio

I don't at all think your nose is "terrible", as you say; there is nothing wrong with being honest about what you like and what you don't. I would say just keep sampling and experiencing scents, both old and new, and just buy what you like regardless of what the consensus opinion about it on Basenotes is.